Persia Nelson, a 26-year-old from Schenectady, New York, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for second-degree murder in the death of her 11-month-old daughter, Halo Branton. The incident occurred on March 10, 2024, when Halo died of hypothermia after being placed in a 10-foot-deep drainage pipe filled with cold water and mud on the General Electric campus.
Case Timeline
- March 9, 2024: Halo reported missing, triggering an Amber Alert describing her as in imminent danger.​
- March 10, 2024: Authorities found Halo’s body floating face-up in the pipe after a search involving local police, state police, and the FBI; Nelson was arrested.
- October 2025: Jury convicted Nelson of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and child endangerment after reviewing surveillance video showing her at the scene for 28 minutes without aiding the child.
- February 2, 2026: Judge Matthew Sypniewski imposed the maximum sentence, rejecting Nelson’s apology and “tragic accident” claim as insincere.
Courtroom Details
Prosecutors emphasized Nelson lingered for nearly 30 minutes as Halo cried before walking away to a heated building 400 feet away, calling it deliberate abandonment rather than an accident. The judge noted, “This is not a tragic accident,” and predicted she’d express true remorse only at parole eligibility in 25 years. Nelson’s defense argued stress and disorientation, but evidence like video footage led to conviction; her attorney plans an appeal.
Family Impact
Halo’s father’s cousin described the child as “beautiful, charming, and intelligent,” noting the father had sought custody amid family devastation. An autopsy confirmed hypothermia as the cause, with the pipe’s frigid, wet conditions sealing her fate.
